Las Vegas’ economy is missing one crucial piece to its puzzle — a public medical school, according to panelists at a Lincy Institute forum on the economic impact of a medical school at UNLV.

UNLV, in the meantime, has taken another step in an effort to establish such a school.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas has submitted its application for accreditation of its medical school, the first step in a years-long process, said Dr. Barbara Atkinson, dean of the burgeoning school.

Don Snyder’s title is acting president of UNLV, but his plans for the new school year are anything but temporary. Snyder, a former Harrah Hotel College dean, took over after former president Neal Smatresk left last winter for North Texas University.